LAS VEGAS – Ross Pearson’s move from lightweight to featherweight was a successful one, though Junior Assuncao made it anything but a smooth one.

The bout concluded the Spike TV-televised preliminary card of UFC 141 and took place at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena.

It followed prelims on Facebook and preceded the night’s pay-per-view main card.

For Pearson, a winner of “The Ultimate Fighter 9″ who went 4-2 as a lightweight, he got a stiff test in the Assuncao, whose awkward style and proven ground skills initially proved a challenge.

The first round was a little light on action. Assuncao scored an early takedown and delivered a solid punch as Pearson got back to his feet. However, Assuncao struggled to score another takedown, and Pearson had trouble finding his range and closing the distance in the first five minutes of the fight.

Assuncao quickly got a trip-takedown in the second round, but Pearson swiftly got back to his feet. After initially struggling to find his range, Pearson finally landed some clean kicks and scored a flash knockdown with a stiff jab. Each fighter scored a trip-takedown in the final 30 seconds of the fight, but Pearson – despite a badly bloodied nose – clearly did more damage.

In what likely was the deciding round, Assuncao quickly landed a solid jab, scored a takedown, took Pearson’s back, and worked for the choke. Pearson, though, escaped back to his feet and then broke free of the clinch to get some distance. Assuncao, though, quickly swarmed and again put him in the cage. Pearson landed some knees and low kicks after getting some space to work. A final flurry that forced Assuncao to retreat likely is what sealed the deal for Pearson.

Ultimately, he took the unanimous decision via 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27 scores.

Pearson (13-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC) picks up his fifth win in seven fights and gets his featherweight run off to a good start. Assuncao (13-5 MMA, 2-3 UFC), meanwhile, snaps a career-best seven-fight win streak.

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